Targeted surveys may use telephone interviews, just like the Omnibus Survey does. But they also may use other data collection methods, such as focus groups, intercept surveys, mailout/mailback questionnaires, or web-based surveys.

A fundamental difference between the Omnibus Survey and the targeted surveys is in the data collection cycle. While the Omnibus Survey collects data each month and therefore can provide a "moving picture" of transportation use in this country, the targeted surveys usually occur one time only, and therefore yield a "snapshot" of transportation use by the special interest populations. Some targeted surveys may be repeated a year or two later.

BTS develops content for these surveys based on requests (and funding) from the other DOT administrations, or in order to fill a transportation "data gap" identified by the BTS.